Details

Source: https://study.auckland.ac.nz/ords/r/uoa/catalogue/course?p6_code=CIVIL%20725 Parent: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/study-options/find-a-study-option/master-of-earthquake-engineering-meqeng.html

Content

Course Tabs

• Overview
• Teaching and Learning
• Assessment and Learning Outcomes
• Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Overview

Course Prescription

Advanced topics in earthquake effects on geotechnical structures, including: dynamic properties of soils; earthquake-induced ground response; seismic stability of slopes, embankments; earth-retaining structures; soil liquefaction; ground deformations; remediation and mitigation techniques. Design applications and advanced methods of analysis with case history analyses of major earthquakes. An independent research project will be used to solve a challenging geotechnical earthquake engineering problem.

Course Overview

PHILOSOPHY:\ The course covers advanced knowledge in the field of soil dynamics and earthquake geotechnical engineering. It builds on the fundamental ideas learned in previous Geomechanics courses (CIVIL 200 and CIVIL 300, or equivalent) and applies these ideas in analysing and understanding the seismic effects on soil structures. The course focuses on the state-of-the-art knowledge and practice of the geotechnical aspects of earthquake engineering, including the current research in the field.\ Through the lectures, students will understand the fundamental principles and practical methods associated with each topic. The core taught skills are extended by individual design projects where students will develop and apply the understanding gained in solving real-world engineering problems. Case studies of major earthquakes and assignments will be used to supplement these skills.\ COURSE OUTLINE:\

• Geotechnical problems encountered during earthquakes
• Seismology and earthquake engineering
• Seismic hazard and analysis
• Wave propagation and local site effects
• Dynamic properties of soils
• Ground response analysis
• Seismic stability of slopes and embankments
• Seismic earth pressure and behaviour of earth-retaining structures
• Soil liquefaction and permanent ground deformations
• Soil remediation and mitigation techniques
• Seismic monitoring

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures, 6 hours of tutorial, 60 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 54 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite : must have completed CIVIL 300

Locations and Semesters Offered

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities, including tutorials, will NOT be available as recordings.\ The course will NOT include live online events, including group discussions/tutorials.\ Attendance on campus is required for the exam.\ The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable. \

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

There is no recommended text for this course. Lecture slides will be uploaded to Canvas.The following references are available in the Engineering Library:

• Kramer, S: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Prentice Hall, 1996)
• Towhata, I.: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Springer-Velag, 2008)
• Ishihara, K.: Soil Behaviour in Earthquake Geotechnics (Oxford Science, 1996)
• Idriss, I.M. and Boulanger, R.W.: Soil Liquefaction during Earthquakes (EERI, 2008)
• Bhattacharya, S., Orense, R.P., Lombardi, D.: Seismic Design of Foundations: Concepts and Applications (ICE 2019)

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All Earthquake geotechnical engineering practice series published by NZGS/MBIE (https://www.building.govt.nz/building-code-compliance/b-stability/b1-structure/geotechnical-guidance/):

• Module 1: Overview of the geotechnical guidelines
• Module 2: Geotechnical investigations for earthquake engineering
• Module 3: Identification, assessment and mitigation of liquefaction hazards
• Module 4: Earthquake resistant foundation design
• Module 5: Ground improvement of soils prone to liquefaction
• Module 5a: Specification of ground improvement for residential properties in the Canterbury Region
• Module 6: Earthquake resistant retaining wall design
• Planning and engineering guidance for potentially liquefaction-prone land

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

While there are no lab or field activities for this course, students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.\

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

• Honesty - in all aspects of research work
• Accountability - in the conduct of research
• Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
• Good stewardship – on behalf of others
• Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
• Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

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Additional Information on Academic integrity

Any use of generative AI tools in assessment work must be acknowledged.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Assessments

Additional Information on Assessment

A passing mark, comprising the sum of all assessment types, is 50% or higher, according to University policy.

Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.

While it is possible to submit late for the coursework (projects and lab reports), a late submission penalty is stipulated in the assignment and project handouts.

Late submission would only be permitted up to 24 hours after the original deadline.

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Per the students' feedback, more in-person tutorials will be conducted, so make sure you attend the class in person.

Thus, a separate 1-hr tutorial session per week is scheduled.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.

Course - V6

CIVIL 725 - Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering - Level 9 - V2.7 - Effective From: Summer Semester 2026 (Published: 2025-12-04)